‘Superstar’ Ian Machado Garry says he (not Aljamain Sterling or Sean O’Malley) is carrying UFC 292

UFC 292 is set to invade TD Garden in Boston, Mass., this Saturday night (Aug., 19, 2023) featuring a pair of title fights. Headlining the event will be a Bantamweight title fight as division champion, Aljamain Sterling, will defend his belt against fan-favorite, Sean O’Malley.

In the co-main event, women’s Strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, will defend her title against Amanda Lemos. But according to Ian Machado Garry, despite the star power at the top of the card he is the main attraction of the evening tasked to save the pay-per-view (PPV) event.

“I believe that I am carrying this 292 card on my back, and that if it wasn’t for me, this card would go down the drain,” Machado Garry said on The MMA Hour (via MMA Fighting). “With the opponent change and everything, at the end of the day, I’m just happy the fans get to see me, because I know there’s a lot of Irish and Brazilian support in Boston that are excited to have me there. I’m glad the fans get to watch me live in action.”

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CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE DIP! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its highly anticipated return to Boston, Mass., on Sat., Aug. 19, 2023, with two compelling championship bouts. In the ESPN+-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) main event, Bantamweight roost-ruler, Aljamain Sterling, plans to silence No. 2-seeded contender, Sean O’Malley. In UFC 292’s co-main event, women’s Strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, locks horns with No. 4-ranked contender, Amanda Lemos.

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Since “Beantown” is rich with Irish culture, Garry feels the fact that he hails from Ireland is reason enough to get him the biggest pop of the evening and the most support.

“For sure. I’m Irish. I’m fighting in Boston. They have a massive Irish contingent. I’ve just been in Brazil the last two and a half months, [and] the biggest contingent of Brazilians is in Massachusetts and Boston.

“This is the stage, the platform where I go in there, and you say it, you’ve got the likes of Sean O’Malley and Aljamain and all these guys, that I’m the superstar on the card. It happened in the last fight, it’s happening this fight, the wheels are in motion. I just have to show up and do my thing, and the world will see.”

Garry was initially set to face Geoff Neal before “Handz of Steel” was forced out with undisclosed health issues. Stepping in to fill the void is longtime veteran, Neil Magny, who is out to burst Garry’s bubble (and ego) by handing him his first-ever defeat.

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